Electric can opener



Oct. 18, 1966 p, w, w ETAL 3,279,054

ELECTRIC CAN OPENER Filed July 1, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l I L I jZ/I/E/VTORS. PRESTQN W. K4WN. JOHN WALLACE PUG/1'. JOSEPH B. L/NDECKER.

Oct. 18, 1966 ELECTRIC CAN Filed July 1, 1964 P. W. YAWN ETAL OPENER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 J/VI E/VTORS. PRESTON W YAWN. JOHN PMLLACE PUG/1 JOSEPH B. L/NDECKER.

United States Patent 3,279,054 ELECTRIC CAN OPENER Preston W. Yawn, 612 S. Adams .St., and John Wallace Pugh, 837 E. Peace St., both of Canton, Miss., and

Joseph B. Lindecker, Skokie, Ill.; said Lindecker assignor to said Yawn and said Pugh Filed July 1, 1964, Ser. No. 379,649 Claims. (Cl. 30--4) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a can opener.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device powered by electricity, automatically responding to 'the insertion of a beverage can, such as a beer can, to force into the can a piercing prong for the purpose of forming therein a dispensing opening.

Another object of this invention is to provide -an opener which can be quickly adapted to open both regular and king size beer cans, often referred to as 12 oz. and 16 oz. cans, having circumferences of both cans substantially identical and the only difference in the containers being that the 16 oz. cans are taller than the 12 oz. cans.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which embodies a plurality of sliding adapter base member, manually movable, to position in both a regular and king size can in the device, the rearward movement of the can in the device moving a switch plunger to close a switch to energize an electric motor which, in turn, drives associated parts and forces a pair of can piercing prongs through the top end wall of the can.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of safety means to prevent injury to the operator and operate the device swiftly,thus to permit the opening of the greatest number of cans in the shortest possible time.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts more particularly defined in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the electric can opener constituting the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevational view of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a left side elevational view of the device;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary right side elevational view of the device, portions 'being shown in section and illustrating the position of a pair of can supporting members;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through the device of FIGURE 1 and showing the same at the beginning of a can opening cycle, the operators finger shown by dotted lines in a dangerous position adjacent the top surface of the can;

FIGURE -6 is a sectional viewsimilar to FIGURE 5 showing the same near the end of the can opening cycle, the operators finger shown by dotted lines and being forcefully removed from the top of the can;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 7-7 of FIGURE 5 and shows the rear view of the piercing prongs supporting and operating arm;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section :line 88 of FIGURE 5 FIGURE 9 is a transverse vertical rear sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 9-9 of FIGURE 3;

3,279,054 Patented Oct. 18, 1966 "Ice FIGURE 10 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the circuit for operating the switches for energizing the operating electric motor and operating the associated parts associated therewith;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 5, showingamodifiedform of the safety means and showing the same near the beginning of the can opening cycle;

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURE 11 and showing the same near the end of a can opening cycle, the selected position of the can being shown in 'dotted lines; and

FIGURE 13 is a partial top plan view, parts omitted showing the T shaped metal main frame, the motor support plate shown by dotted lines at the rear, and the can supporting block chamber shown by dotted lines at the front thereof. 7

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the electrically operated can opener which is the 7 subject of this invention includes an elongated rectangular shaped base 10, made of wood or other suitable material. Extending forwardly from the rear transverse edge portion of the base is the metal supporting "frame 20, clearly shown by FIGURES '5, 6, 9, and 13. Said frame 20 is arranged'with a platform 31 to support a motor .23 thereon with its motor shaft 24 extending forwardly and horizontally above the base 10 and midway between the side edges of said base 10, said frame '20 being secured to said base '10 by bolts 25, shown dotted; see FIGURE 9.

Extending upwardly and transversely of said base 10 is the metal front wall portion 14 integrally formed at the front of said frame '20 and provided with an edge portion 12, and also provided with a flanged top supporting member .32 spaced a fair distance above the wall portion 14. Said frame 20 may be referred to as 'being T-shaped, having a longitudinal and rearwardly extending horizontal postportion 33 with the vertical front wall portion 14 forming the transverse cross bar portion thereof, .see FIG. 13. The front wall portion 14 is assembled at a fair distance to the 7 rear of the front transverse edge portion of the base 10, leaving a platform area 34 at the front end of said base 10.

A U-s'haped side wall and rear wall type housing 11 with a horizontal top wall 30 is secured to the base 10 by fasteners 13 and to the top supporting member 32 'by fasteners 36. The space between said front wall 14 and the top supporting member 32 is closed by a forwardly extending housing 22 and provided with a guard type 'lid 15, see FIGURES 5, 6, and 8, which is pivotally mounted on pin 49 to the upper edge portion of said housing 22, see FIG. 3. The wall member 22 is provided with a horizontal elongated cut-out 26 and a vertical cut-out 27, see FIG. 1, for purposes hereinafter described. Said front wall .14has-a'vertical, concave front wall portion 17 so formed to receive a can or containerC 'thereinand for positioning the same properly beneath the guard type lid 15 where the container can be opened by the opener device. The housing 11 therefore encloses theoperating parts of the opener device and secured to the base 10*and having the top wall 30, the base 10 having the forwardly extending platform area 34 which serves as a seat or rest for relatively extra tall cans to be opened by the device. Slidably mounted in front of the front wall portion 14 and adjacent thereto are two blocks 18 and '19 positioned one above the other and partially enclosed in block chamber 21. Block 18 slides upon the base 10 while block v 19 slides upon the top surface ofblock 18Iif so desired.

Blocks 18 and 19 may-be referred to as upper and lower auxiliary can rests, or auxiliary base plates 18 and 19 respectively. As will be observed in FIGURES l and 4, the lower block 18 is shown resting upon the base 10 for supporting an intermediate size can, say a 16 oz. type, in proper position to be opened by the opener device. When a shorter can, say a 12 oz. type, is to be opened, the lower block 18 is moved from the block chamber 21, along with block 19, by grasping knob 28 which extends through .transverse opening 38 and moving it to the right. The top block 19 is moved in and out of chamber 21 by grasping knob 29 which extends through transverse opening 39. Block 19 will always overlie block 18. It is apparent that both auxiliary blocks may be moved in position simultaneously, if desired, by grasping both knobs 28 and 29 and moving same to the right at the same time.

A bifurcated flange, or ear members 16, are formed and secured to, or formed integrally with the inner convex surface of theconcave wall portion 17, said members 16 extending downwardly to the side of frame 20 and integrally secured thereto adjacent base 10. A pivot pin 35 is carried by openings in said members 16 and it extends transversely at the top ends of members- 16.

Pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 35 is an elongated lever 40 whichhas'mounted at its forward end a pair of cutters, or punches 41 and 42. The opposite end 46 of lever 40 is provided with bifurcated end members 43', and a transverse pin 44 and a roller 45 are mounted upon said pin 44, see FIG. 6. Said rear end 46 is yieldingly anchored to the side of frame member 20 by means of the spring, 47 which extends from ,an eyelet 48 depending from end 46 and arranged forwardly from the roller 45.

An operating arm 50 has one end 52 mounted upon and secured to the free end of the motor shaft 24, see FIG. 5, effecting rotation therewith. The opposite end, or working end 51 ofarm 50, makes suitable contact with the roller 45 on lever 40 causing said lever to assume a substantially horizontal position, as shown by FIGURE 6, when rotatedin a circle by said motor 23 and motor shaft 24. The rear wall of housing 11 is formed with a rearwardly extending chamber 54 to allow the arm 50 to be rotated by shaft 24 without striking the rear wall of the housing 11. p

A switch 55, having a means for manual activation such as'the finger control arm 56, is mounted on the lower extremities of member 16 attached to frame 20. Said arm 56 extends through an opening in the concave wall portion 17 and the inward or rearward movement thereof strikes the spring loaded pin 57 associated with the switch 55, see FIGS. 1 and 5.

The forward end of lever 40 is provided with bifurcated ears 60 extending normally to the longitudinal axisof the lever 40, see FIG. 8. A pivot bolt 61 extends between and through the cars 60 and pivotally supports two arms 62 arranged on opposite ends of the bolt 61, said arms being carried on pivot pin 66 between bracket cars 63 and 64 fixed to the rear side of lid 15, see FIGURE 8. As observed by FIGURES and 6, when the forward end of lever 40 is lowered, the arms 62 will effect outward motion of the lid 15; this action forces the careless fingers of the operator away from the top of the can before the cutters 41 and 42 are lowered into contact with the can thereby forming a safety feature. Once the can is pierced, the lever 40 moves upwardly, withdrawing the cutters from the can and at the same time the arms 62 will pull the lid 15 rearwardly in transverse alignment with the front wall portion of the housing 22. 7

When it is desired to open a 12 oz. can, or to perforate the top thereof, it is advantageous to punch the head. or top of the can C with a dispensing aperture and a suitable venting aperture. The two blocks 18 and 19 are moved in position below the lid 15 and in front of the concave wall 17. The full can is placed on top of block 19, and the finger control arm 56 is moved rearwardly by the can depressing the button or pin 57 of the switch 55, this action causing the switch 55 to close, completing a circuit of electrical energy through the wires 71 and 72 to switch 80 normally closed, then to the con tacts of the relay 85 normally closed, then to the motor.

23 and then to the counter 58. The counter 58 is secured to the inner surface of housing 22 above front wall por tion 14 with the spool thereof behind the aperture or cut out 26. The indicia on the spool of the counter 58 relating to the number of cans C that have been pierced by the cutters or prongs 41 and 42. The knurled knob.

80 normally closed, opens thecircuit and causes the cur-.

rent to then flow through the hold coil 82 of the lock-out relay 85 which opens the contacts thereof effecting the motor to stop. Due to momentum of the motor rotor and cam arm, the arm passes the switch arm 81 causing the switch 80 to return to normally closed position. lock-out relay 85 now has the motor stopped and will stay in this position until the can is removed. When the can is removed the switch 55 is opened again effecting through its windings but not of sufficient amount to cause.

all how of current to stop. This re-sets the lock-out relay 85 and the machine is ready for another cycle by the positioning of another can in the device. To those skilled in the electrical art, it is known that the resistance through the holding coil 82 of the relay 85 is so much greater than that of the motor windings, when switch 55 is closed and switch 80 is open, that the relay will operate while the motor will remain idle. In other words the motor still has a small amount of electric current running.

the motor to revolve. An auxiliary override switch 83. is secured, to the inside surface of the rear wall of hous-' ing 11 and has a manually operable plunger or knob 84 extending through the wall and operable by the operator. if desired. If the cam arm 50 should stop while in con-. tact with switch arm 81 of switch 80, effecting the contacts thereof to hold-open, then the operator will push. the knob 84 inwardly for just a second to effect the arm 50 to pass the switch arm 81, whereby the circuits are ready for the insertion of another can to be pierced. The

lead-in wires 65 and 67 may be connected to any convenient electrical source through the use of the conventional electrical connection, or plug 69. The electrical circuit is clearly shown by FIGURE 10. It is obvious that electrical switch 80 and arm 81 provide the means for stopping the motor approximately at the end of a cam arm operating cycle. Thus it is obvious the mechanism operated through a single cycle of rotation of the cam arm and the motor is turned off automatically due to said switch 80 and arm 81.. i

As seen by FIGURES 5 and 6, the small punch or cutter 41 is mounted under the underside of the operating lever 40 adjacent the extreme outer end thereof. The larger punchor cutter 42 is mounted between the small punch 41 and the pivot pin 35 so that the larger punch 42 strikes the can first and adjacent the rear beaded portion thereof. vTherefore, upward pressure of the rear end 46 of-lever 40 causes downward pressure on the-forward endof lever 40 and causes the large punch 42 to provide a large pouring aperture in the can head,.as well as a suitable venting perforation therein caused by punch 41;

the large punch holds the can rigidly while punch 41 is I piercing the can head.

The

the lid 15 has been described as being operated by a pair of arms 62 attached to bracket ears 63 and 64. A modification is clearly shown by FIGURES 11 and 12. Certain parts have been omitted. A gear-sector 90 is mounted upon the upper side and at the outer end portion of lever 40 in place of the gear ears60, and moves with lever 40 as it is operated. A second gear-sector 92 is secured to the inside surface of the lid 15 and adjacent the top area thereof and in the same vertical plane as gearsector 90 with the teeth of each gear-sector in alignment and meshing with each other. As shown by FIGURE 12, counter-clockwise action of lever 40 about pivot pin 35 causes counter-clockwise movement of gear sector 90. The meshing of the teeth on both sectors will therefore cause gear-sector 92 to move in a clockwise direction upon counter-clockwise movement of sector 91. The counter-clockwise movement of lever 40 about pin 35 will therefore tilt the lid 15 outwardly and clockwise about pivot pin 49, while clockwise movement of lever 40 about pin 35 will pull the lid 15 inwardly since it causes counter-clockwise movement of lid 15 and gear sector 92. The lid 15 is pushed outwardly before the piercing prongs are lowered thus providing a safety fea' ture against accidents.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

We claim:

1. A device for opening a beverage can comprising: a rigid base, a rigid upstanding support rigidly secured to said base, a prong actuating arm pivotally mounted on a pivot pin assembled in a horizontal plane with and adjacent the upper end of said upstanding support, said prong arm having a pair of depending piercing prongs of unequal length on its forward end thereof, roller means carried at the extreme rear end of said prong arm, the rear end portion of said prong arm being yieldably anchored to said base by a coil spring assembled therebetween, an electric motor mounted on saidsupport adjacent the rear end portion thereof, said motor having a motor shaft with an outer free end extending horizontally therefrom and at right angles to said prong arm in a horizontal plane beneath the horizontal plane embodying said pivot pin, an operating arm secured at one end thereof to the outer free end of said motor shaft, rotatable therewith and arranged in the same vertical plane as that embodying said prong arm therein for converting turning motion of said operating arm through a single cycle of rotation of said motor shaft into a single oscillation of said prong actuating arm; a normally open motor switch mounted on said upstanding support beneath said pivot pin for controlling the operation of said motor, a horizontally arranged switch arm assembled with said motor switch and actuated by positioning of a can on the support, closing of said motor switch effecting rotation of said motor shaft and said operating arm, whereby the free end of said operating arm contacts said roller means upon the free end of said prong arm effecting upward movement of the rear end of said prong arm and downward movement of the forward end thereof embodying said depending prongs, said coil spring tensioned to bias said prong arm to the' first position thereof after movement of said operating arm through the first one-half cycle thereof, an auxiliary motor switch normally closed being connected with the motor electric circuit, an auxiliary switch operating arm connected with said auxiliary motor switch and positioned in the path of travel of said operating arm during the last one-half cycle thereof, the movement of said auxiliary switch operating arm effected by said operating arm in motion automatically opening said auxiliary motor switch which is normally closed and connected with the motor electric circuit, allowing said operating arm secured to said motor shaft to stop at the end of a can opening cycle of 360 degrees.

2. The opener device of claim 1 wherein a housing is secured to said rigid base and enclosing the operating parts thereof, a depending guard type lid being pivotally mounted to the upper, forward edge portion of said housing, means cooperating between said lid and said prong actuating arm, said means efiecting outward motion of said lid as the forward end of the said prong actuating arm is lowered, thereby forcing any object adjacent thereto away from the depending piercing prongs secured to the forward end portion of said prong actuating arm during downward movement thereof.

3. The opener device of claim 1 wherein a housing is secured to said rigid base and encloses the operating parts thereof, a depending guard type lid being pivotally mounted to the upper, forward edge portion of said housing, bifurcated ears secured to and extending from the forward end of said prong actuating arm, bracket ears secured to the rear side of said lid, a pair of lid actuating arms pivotally assembled between said bifurcated ears and said bracket ears, said lid actuating arm effecting outward motion of said lid as the forward end of the said prong actuating arm is lowered, thereby forcing any object adjacent thereto away from the depending piercing prongs secured to the forward end portion of said prong actuating arm during downward movement thereof.

4. The opener device of claim 1 wherein a housing is secured to said rigid base and encloses the operating parts of the device, a guard type lid being pivotally mounted to and depending from the upper, forward edge portion of said housing, a first gear-sector being mounted upon the upper side and at the outer end portion of said prong actuating arm, a second gear-sector being secured to the inside surface of said lid and adjacent the top area thereof and in the same vertical plane as said first gear-sector with the teeth of each gear-sector in alignment and meshing with each other and effecting outward motion of said lid as the forward end of the said prong actuating arm is lowered, thereby forcing any object adjacent thereto away from the depending piercing prongs secured to the forward end portion of said prong actuating arm during downward movement thereof.

5. An automatic can opener comprising a can supporting base, a rigid frame carried by said base, a housing mounted on said base comprising side walls, a rear wall, and a top waH, a front wall supported by said frame, a second supporting frame secured to said first rigid frame and extending horizontally above said front wall, a depending guard type lip member pivotally mounted with said second supporting frame and above said can supporting base, a can opening lever pivotally carried by said rigid frame the rear end portion of chored to said base by a coil spring assembled therebetween, the tension coil spring to bias said lever arm downwardly, drive means for said can opening leaver type device including a motor, a motor shaft extending horizontally therefrom, an operating arm secured to said motor shaft extending from said motor and rotatable therewith, said operating arm rotatable in a vertical plane which embodies said can opening lever, a can opening switch for starting said motor, a second switch for stopping said motor, said can opening lever being first actuated by the motion of said operating arm at the beginning of a can opening cycle, said operating arm actuating said second switch to stop said motor near the end of a can opening cycle, a gear-sector means rigidly connected with the forward end of said can opening lever, a sec-0nd gear-sector rigidly connected to the rear surface of said guard type lip member, both said gear-sectors being in the same vertical plane with the teeth of each gear-sector in alignment and meshing with each other, whereby downward movement of the forward end of said lever will force said lip outwardly and removing any object adjacent in its path of movement, and a pair of prongs of unequal length depending from the forward end of said can opening lever, the shorter prong providing a vent opening while the larger said lever yieldably an-' prong provides a large pouring opening in the top of the 2,703,926 can when the opening lever is operated while in use. 2,779,096 2,790,233 References Cited by the Examiner 2,959,852 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 ,3

1,066,459 7/1913 Aliano 192134 1,111,276 9/1914 Stone 192134 Newsorn et a1 30-10 X 8 Regan 30-61 X Moore 30-10 X Sublett et a1 30-4 Moore 3010 X 'Schussler 304 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

G. WEIDENFELD, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR OPENING A BEVERAGE CAN COMPRISING: A RIGID BASE, A RIGID UPSTANDING SUPPORT RIGIDLY SECURED TO SAID BASE, A PRONG ACTUATING ARM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON A PIVOT PIN ASSEMBLED IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE WITH AND ADJACENT THE UPPER END OF SAID UPSTANDING SUPPORT, SAID PRONG ARM HAVING A PAIR OF DEPENDING PIERCING PRONGS OF UNEQUAL LENGTH ON ITS FORWARD END THEREOF, ROLLER MEANS CARRIED AT THE EXTREME REAR END OF SAID PRONG ARM, THE REAR END PORTION OF SAID PRONG ARM BEING YIELDABLY ANCHORED TO SAID BASE BY A COIL SPRING ASSEMBLED THEREBETWEEN, AN ELECTRIC MOTOR MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT ADJACENT THE REAR END PORTION THEREOF, SAID MOTOR HAVING A MOTOR SHAFT WITH AN OUTER FREE END EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY THEREFROM AND AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID PRONG ARM IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE BENEATH THE HORIZONTAL PLANE EMBODYING SAID PIVOT PIN, AN OPERATING ARM SECURED AT ONE END THEREOF TO THE OUTER FREE END OF SAID MOTOR SHAFT, ROTATABLE THEREWITH AND ARRANGED IN THE SAME VERTICAL PLANE AS THAT EMBODYING SAID PRONG ARM THEREIN FOR CONVERTING TURNING MOTION OF SAID OPERATING ARM THROUGH A SINGLE CYCLE OF ROTATION OF SAID MOTOR SHAFT INTO A SINGLE OSCILLATION OF SAID PRONG ACTUATING ARM; A NORMALLY OPEN MOTOR SWITCH MOUNTED ON SAID UPSTANDING SUPPORT BENEATH SAID PIVOT PIN FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF SAID MOTOR, A HORIZONTALLY ARRANGED SWITCH ARM ASSEMBLED WITH SAID MOTOR SWITCH AND ACTUATED BY POSITIONING OF A CAN ON THE SUPPORT, CLOSING OF SAID MOTOR SWITCH EFFECTING ROTATION OF SAID MOTOR SHAFT AND SAID OPERATING ARM, WHEREBY THE FREE END OF SAID OPERATING ARM CONTACTS SAID ROLLER MEANS UPON THE FREE END OF SAID PRONG ARM EFFECTING UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE REAR END OF SAID PRONG ARM AND DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE FORWARD END THEREOF EMBODYING SAID DEPENDING PRONGS, SAID COIL SPRING TENSIONED TO BIAS SAID PRONG ARM TO THE FIRST POSITION THEREOF AFTER MOVEMENT OF SAID OPERATING ARM THROUGH THE FIRST ONE-HALF CYCLE THEREOF, AN AUXILIARY MOTOR SWITCH NORMALLY CLOSED BEING CONNECTED WITH THE MOTOR ELECTRIC CIRCUIT, AN AUXILIARY SWITCH OPERATING ARM CONNECTED WITH SAID AUXILIARY SWITCH AND POSITIONED IN THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID OPERATING ARM DURING THE LAST ONE-HALF CYCLE THEREOF, THE MOVEMENT OF SAID AUXILIARY SWITCH OPERATING ARM EFFECTED BY SAID OPERATING ARM IN MOTION AUTOMATICALLY OPENING SAID AUXILIARY MOTOR SWITCH WHICH IS NORMALLY CLOSED AND CONNECTED WITH THE MOTOR ELECTRIC CIRCUIT, ALLOWING SAID OPERATING ARM SECURED TO SAID MOTOR SHAFT TO STOP AT THE END OF A CAN OPENING CYCLE OF 360 DEGREES. 